Dutch Turkologist Returns Prize to Protest Erdoğan

Click here to read the article in Turkish / Haberin Türkçesi için buraya tıklayın. 

Turkish language and culture expert Dutch Prof. Dr. Eric-Jan Zürcher has announced that he would return the prize of high honour awarded by Turkey. Zürcher has expressed that he had taken this decision in order to protest President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s dictatorial regime.

According to the report of BBC Turkey, in his article published on the Dutch NRC daily, Zürcher has noted that Turkey has shown progress towards Europe between 2002-2006 yet has reversed since 2007 and tended to rapture from the European Union (EU).

Noting that he had concern with regards to Erdoğan; the president of secular people from Turkey, Zürcher has expressed that he was not used to take the warnings serious, that Erdoğan would put the opponents out of action and intensify the role of Islam in the society and considered these only “narrow minded intimidation propaganda”.  He has added “But I was wrong, they were right. Now have a look at where we stand. See where Erdoğan, who has won almost 10 elections stands now”.

In his article on NRC, Turkologist Eric-Jan Zürcher who is an academic member in Leiden University, has expressed that he would kindy “wrap up” the prize awarded to him in 2005 and send it to the Embassy of Turkey in Lahey. (ÇT/DG)